Aishwarya Rai - Miss World 1994I'm writing this from a fan's point of view and I don't mean to offend anyone. But seriously, I view beauty pageants as, in the words of Lara Dutta - Miss Universe 2000, "a platform for women to foray into the fields that they want, be it entrepreneurship, the armed forces or politics". There's nothing wrong with women competing in beauty pageants and, in the words of Mpule Kwelagobe - Miss Universe 1999, "celebrating their feminity". Why must people view it as a way for women to sell themselves as sex objects or looking at pageants as discriminatory or an affront towards women? What different is there between a beauty pageant and a boxing fight/athletic meet/weightlifting competition? Aren't they all competitions? And what is wrong with competitions? Do we have to reduce ourselves to being chauvinistic midgets and go around being a hypocrite and criticising/demeaning/discriminating women? Anyway, many women succeed in their career paths, some more than others. Nevertheless, without a doubt, most women achieve their success through sheer determination and hard work, through years of education and experiences. Sometimes, being in a beauty pageant actually helps these women to realise their dreams and giving them enough exposure to be noticed. Some of the world's most famous women are past beauty queens themselves. Look at Aishwarya Rai, our own Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Laura Elena Harring and many more! They have also worked hard for their success and are we going to reduce them to minuscule creatures just because they joined a beauty pageant? I seriously don't think so.
Riyo Mori - Miss Universe 2007
The main reason I'm writing this entry is because I find it quite amusing that Malaysian women are so "scared" to join pageants and representing their country in the international arena. Isn't it a great opportunity? How else can you get a chance to wear your country's name alongside other people and feel proud about it? Case in point - say if you're a singer/actress in Malaysia, how often will you get the opportunity to be like Datuk Michelle Yeoh? Quite frankly, not a very bright prospect, right? What I'm trying to say is that being a beauty queen actually enables you to be proud of who you are, represent your country and stand tall among other women from all over the world! Even if you don't make it, at least you tried. Peoples, always aim for the moon because even if you fail, you will still land among the stars!
Andrea Fonseka - Miss Malaysia Universe 2004
Sometimes, I'm kinda disappointed with the kind of reception beauty pageants get here in Malaysia. Basically, it's like no exposure at all aside from Arianna Teoh, Lina Teoh and Deborah Priya Henry. OK, if you don't believe me, ask yourself - who is Miss Malaysia Universe 2004? Don't know? Not surprising because not much press actually cover our pageants every year except for the fact when the girl is someone famous or someone they believe "will make an impact at the international pageant" just like Deborah last year. But really, I can't blame them because if Malaysians are not even interested, why should they even bother, right?
Kurara Chibana - 1st Runner-up Miss Universe 2006
Anyway, enough of my rantings, I just hope my entry will spark some interest in young Malaysian women out there in joining our local pageants. Miss Malaysia Universe just crowned its winner yesterday and Miss Malaysia World is looking for contestants now. Click here to join the pageant and be in the footsteps of Deborah Priya Henry, Miss Malaysia World 2007 and Miss World 2007 semifinalist. One last thing, even the ultramodern Japan is finally taking beauty pageants seriously and guess what they get in return for their renewed interest in what some people labelled as a cattle market - one Miss Universe, one Miss Universe 1st runner-up and one Miss Universe 4th runner-up in a span of just five years. Five years, peoples! Malaysia has not had a Miss Universe semifinalist since 1970! And she was our only semifinalist!
Riyo Mori - Miss Universe 2007Andrea Fonseka - Miss Malaysia Universe 2004
Kurara Chibana - 1st Runner-up Miss Universe 2006
5 comments:
spoken from true first-hand experience, some of these contestants just join to find rich datuk husbands etc. they dont even make an effort to continue doing things and chart a career path for themselves. they will say anything and talk cock to win but after that, no sound and you see them attending parties, that's it. no charity work done, no volunteering etc! all bollocks. i dont blame the press community for not having faith in these girls. these girls dont even show enthusiasm themselves and they turn out to be really dumb, so of course they dont deserve to be covered in papers and magazines. reporters interview ppl everyday and ah lians that join miss msia universe wouldnt impress them at the least. in fact, theyre lucky that the press doesnt slam them. i would if i was given the chance. but of course if they see someone with true potential, they will latch on because these impressive girls are hard to find and truly have the right potential.
I couldn't agree more with what you have said. Honestly, I truly felt that the organisers of Miss Malaysia Universe just accept any girls that sent in applications for the pageant every year. It's quite disappointing really. Like what you said, most of these girls enter these pageants just for one reason and it's sad that they have to resort themselves to such ridiculous acts. Anyway, I just hope one day, Miss Malaysia Universe would start to do something about the quality of their contestants. For the moment, it's quite interesting that you said you're speaking from true first hand experience but you never left a name. I'd like to know who you are if that's alright with you. :)
Dear Jax Network and readers,
I am also speaking on a first hand experience too. In case , you didnt know,I'm Adelaine Chin, last years Miss Malaysia Universe 2007. I don't really agree with what anonymous have to say about girls joining the pageant to meet rich datuks and all.
Let me speak on behalf of just the contestants of Miss Malaysia Universe 2007, during my year when we joined, most of all the girls who joined the pageant are law graduates, University students, MBA student ( from all walks of life) and please note that i said 'MOST', I did not mean ALL. =)
So, why do people have to stereotype us and judge us just because we joined a pageant?
Firstly, they don't even know us personally, and yes, although pictures speaks a thousand words, still, what you see on the press/ media , might not look and seem the way it is.
And even if we are involved in charity, why do we need the press to know?
come on, contributing to charity is from the bottom-of -your -heart , and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, it's not for publicity sake. Well, that's what I believe.
If you think we are sending 'not-so-good quality' girls, then we should ask girls out there who think they can create an impact to come forward to compete for the title. But I believe, girls who already came forward to participate already given their best and we should appreciate that and not criticize them because it does takes a lot of courage and confidence to be on a local/ international stage.
Sometimes, it's not really about winning the title or the crown, it's about great friendship among each delegates every year when we send someone over to represent our country.
Can You imagine sending someone who is gorgeous but with a filthy personality? I don't think it's appealing too.
Well, you could say that it's a beauty pageant after all, and it's all about looks, beauty..etc..
It's not the book covers that matters, it's what is inside. =)
Thank you, Adelaine. I've already left a comment on your blog. And I'd just like to say that I don't disrespect pageant girls which is why I wrote this article at the first place. I'm just pissed Malaysians don't pay enough attention to beauty pageants unlike the South Americans.
Jax, do you really need to explain? First Adelaine said winning the title did open many doors for her and next she claimed she is a busnesswoman and the title DID NOT help her in what she is doing. I have met so many beautiful malaysian girls who are highly educated and come from good family background. Perhaps it's their good upbringing that taught them not to go for fast fame and quick $$$. It's only temporary.
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